Welfare department ready to help the homeless

BASED on data gathered by the Federal Territory Department, there are 1,387 homeless people in Kuala Lumpur and most are in the 22 to 45 age group.

Federal Territory Welfare Department director Noormah Abd Rauf said poverty, old age, drug addiction, abandonment, mental illness, disability, family woes and depression were among the reasons attributed to the homeless problem.

“The community living under the bridge are probably very comfortable where they are.

“Some of these people come from Sabah and Sarawak towork here but they get cheated and end up on the streets.

“There are some who have jobs but still live on the streets,” Noormah

Some of these people come from Sabah and Sarawak to work here but they get cheated and end up on the streets. —NOORMAH ABD RAUF

said.

She said the department was willing to help anyone in distress and that those seeking aid could come to the centre for thehomeless at Anjung Singgah in Jalan Hang Lekiu.

She added that the one-stop intervention centre in Jalan Hang Lekiu would serve as a temporary transit shelter for homeless people.

Most of the homeless people can be seen at the Puduraya bus terminal, Dayabumi complex, Petaling Street, Central Market, Klang Bus Stand, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Chow Kit.

Noormah, however, said the centre tcentre did not not take in drug addicts oor junkies.

“We cannot mix them. It’s not aadvisable to have the beggars or homeless together with the drug addicts.

“But if those living under the bridge are genuinely homeless, we would help them,’’ she said.

V. Ravindran, political secretary to Teluk Intan MP M.manogaran, said those suffering from drug addiction, however, need special help.

He said special programmes that incorporated religious teaching could help drug addicts cut the addiction.

He added that programmes by National Anti-drug Agency (AADK) to help drug addicts curb their addiction were not effective enough compared with some private rehabilitation centres.

“AADK uses a drug called methadone, which is basically a replacement drug for heroin addicts. They get hooked from one drug to another.

“I think proper studies need to be made about the use of this replacement drug and the programmes carried out by AADK.

“Private centres do a better job in curing addicts compared with AADK because they have better programmes. They take on a more holistic approach which incorporates religion and healthy activities,” he said.

He added that using Islamic teachings could be an effective way to get junkies out of their addiction.

“AADK can use the Quranic teachings as an uplifting experience for the addicts instead of just feeding them another drug.

“I have seen many addicts who have been cured go back to drugs but I have also seen people becoming pastors and moving on with their lives.

He added that they had submitted questions on the use of drugs at AADK for the next parliament session.